Young master Ji spent the rest of the afternoon having Lu Yan think through possible responses people could have to different factors, like conflict, failure, risk, authority...
This discussion would continue for several days, and ultimately end up with him introducing her to broad categories people fell under: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.
For now, he watched her frown lightly as she thought through the questions he asked and responded.
As the sun started setting, she fidgeted, before hesitantly saying, "Master, will you send someone to escort me back?"
The master paused, then said, "Isn't it better for you to stay here? You'll need to come back tomorrow."
Lu Yan was stunned for a moment, "What if my aunt sends someone to check on me and discovers I'm missing?"
He frowned, "I'll send someone to intercept her long enough for you to return. Anyway, the camp is closer to the village than the city. If we get news in time, she will never know you are missing."
Lu Yan suddenly smiled, thinking of Gu Sheng's superior martial arts skills, "That's a great idea! This way I can study more."
Young master Ji was amused by her, "I have to handle business matters now. The evening is for your personal study. Let's start tomorrow with any questions you have about what I've taught today."
Lu Yan bowed. Young master Ji had her escorted to a smaller room while he began the meetings he had been putting off all day.
Lu Yan had dinner with Luizhu at the eating hall, going early and returning late, to listen to the gossip of the officers eating in the hall.
She was tired after dinner. She went to bed early, feeling satisfied, thinking about everything that had happened during the day.
---
Two weeks passed quickly.
It snowed a few times, but Lu Yan was unconcerned. She was warm and well-fed, healthy and busy.
Master finished teaching her about the five elements, their natures, generating relationships, restraining relationships, and bodily correspondences.
Today, he was testing her overall knowledge with questions like, "Which yin and yang organs are associated with wood?"
Or, "Which sense organ and emotion is associated with earth?"
And, "If wood controls earth, how can one control earth in the absence of wood?"
After a long grilling session that left Lu Yan thirsty and itching to go outside, master finally declared, "Good! You've learnt the basics well. The next big thing we need to cover are qi and the meridian system."
Lu Yan poured herself a cup of water, and drank deeply.
She'd been spending every spare moment outside of her daily lectures on reading books and scrolls in preparation for today.
She stood up, and stretched her neck, "Finally, it's over!"
Young master Ji watched her. Over the past weeks, she'd slowly started relaxing around him. Now, her behavior was a lot more casual.
He wanted to say that this was just the beginning.
Instead, he let that thought amuse himself, and instead said, "You can take the rest of the day off. You've been working hard."
"Really?"
He smiled, "Really."
"That's great! I can go to the eating hall early to listen to all the rumors. Then, I'll go for a walk around the camp."
Suddenly, she sat down again, and leaned across the table towards him, saying eagerly, "When I return, if you're not busy, we can play many games of go."
Breaks between go sessions were when the master provided the best of the best snacks.
"Alright," he agreed.
Lu Yan stood quickly, "Alright! Then I'll see you later."
She ran off to find Luizhu.
Luizhu had just finished Lu Yan's laundry.
Lu Yan grabbed her arm, and said excitedly, "I have the rest of the day free! Let's go early to the eating hall."
Luizhu hurriedly hung the remaining laundry on a clothesline close to the brazier, then brought Lu Yan's thick cloak, and the wrapped her up in it.
The two girls went outside.
Lu Yan took a deep, pain-free breath of the fresh cold air.
Suddenly feeling as free as a little bird, she let go of Luizhu's arm, and sprinted ahead joyfully.
Luizhu hurried to keep up, calling out, "Ayan! Watch out for the ice patches!"
Lu Yan wasn't paying attention.
She turned a corner at breakneck speed.
Unfortunately, she noticed the puddle of water frozen into solid ice too late.
Before she could feel alarmed, she'd already slipped.
Flying into the air, she landed painfully on her front.
One wrist tried to break the fall, but ended up twinging painfully. Her chin slammed into the ground, and her lower teeth bit deeply into her upper lip.
Lu Yan was dazed for a moment, unable to breathe or cry out. Pain exploded everywhere, especially in her mouth, chin, wrist and knees.
She cried out involuntarily.
Luizhu turned the corner and rushed over to her, calling out in panic, "Ayan!"
Before Luizhu could reach her, someone else had already grabbed Lu Yan's arm and pulled her to sit up.
A shooting pain rushed through her wrist, and Lu Yan cried out again.
Stunned by the pain, she looked tearfully at the person who'd helped her.
Holding her injured wrist with her other hand, she tried to pull her arm back, whimpering, "It hurts! It hurts!"
Her mouth was filled with blood.
Luizhu had reached her, and rudely pushed the person away.
Kneeling beside Lu Yan, she carefully examined her wrist and bleeding mouth, panicking and scolding shrilly, "I told you watch out for the ice! Look what's happened! Where does it hurt? Let's go back quickly. Master will heal your wounds."
A small crowd of people had gathered around.
"Why are you making such a fuss? It's just a little fall!" someone called out.
"What if it leaves a scar?" Luizhu asked anxiously, her fingers fluttering about Lu Yan's mouth.
Several people laughed.
"This little pain is nothing. Don't act like a spoiled girl."
Luizhu angrily opened her mouth.
Lu Yan had to let go of her injured wrist, and pinch Luizhu to stop her from blurting out anything more incriminating.
Straightening out her legs, she stood up slowly, calling out, "I'm okay! I'm okay!"
Her voice came out muffled. She had no choice but to spit or swallow the blood that had gathered in her mouth.
Wincing, she chose to swallow.
Once again, and louder, she repeated, "I'm okay!"
The crowd started dispersing.
She raised her head to find the person who'd tried to help her first looming over her.
Her eyes and cheeks were wet from tears of pain. The corner of her mouth was leaking blood. Her knees twinged on standing and her expression was distorted from the pain.
She made a truly awful picture when she smiled, while grimacing with bloodied teeth, and said, "Thanks for helping me out."